FACILITIES & AMENITIES

Camping: Silver Springs Beach #7 offers developed campground facilities open year-round, with restrooms, tables and grills. Silver Springs Beach #7 along with River Camp are available for reservations.

Primitive on-the-beach camping is permitted in all areas except for day use and boat ramp areas. These areas remain first come, first served.

 A camping limit of 14 days in a 30-day period is enforced. Sanitary dump station facilities are available near both entrances to the park.

NOTE: Showers and flush toilets are CLOSED during the off-season from October to May.

Equestrian: You can learn about equestrian use at Nevada Horse Trails

Picnicking/Day Use: There are two developed, day use picnic areas at Lahontan: one is located directly across Lahontan Dam and one is on Silver Springs Beach. Facilities include modern restrooms, showers, tables and grills. All new facilities are accessible to persons with a disability.

Boat Launch Areas: Boaters with four-wheel drive vehicles may launch off of beaches open to camping. Both sides of the park also provide paved boat launching and parking facilities. The Silver Springs boat launch is located near the day use area. The Churchill Beach boat launch, at the North Shore Marina, is located along U.S. 50, one mile west of Lahontan Dam. All boat launching is done at the risk of the user.

Fishing: Catch-and-release, bank and boat fishing techniques are used to catch walleye, white bass, the hybrid wiper, catfish, trout and other game fish. The Nevada Department of Wildlife maintains fishing regulations. See a Health Warning from the Department of Wildlife on consumption of fish.

Hunting: Hunting is only allowed in designated areas. See hunting information and boundary descriptions. Nevada Department of Wildlife regulations and license requirements apply within the park.

• Lyon County Hunting Boundaries and Game Units
• Churchill County Hunting Boundaries and Game Units
• Lahontan Overall Hunting Map

Programs: Information about program scheduling may be obtained from either park staff or kiosks. Upon request, special presentations can be arranged for groups.

Park Hours: Open seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Fee Booth Hours: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. daily.

Silver Springs Ranger Station Office Hours: 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Friday - Tuesday. Closed Wednesdays and Thursdays.

FIELD NOTES

• The desert is extremely fragile. Proof of this can be seen in the scars left by thoughtless motorists and others who have abused the area in the past. Studies by ecologists indicate that it takes centuries for nature to restore a desert area to its original condition once the soil and vegetation have been disturbed.
• Drive only on approved routes of travel. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on trails in the park.
• Only licensed vehicles and operators may drive in the park. No ALL TERRAIN VEHICLES (ATV) or other unlicensed vehicles are allowed. Motorcyclists must wear helmets.
• The maximum speed limit of motorized vehicles is 25 mph within the recreation area and 15 mph within the beach and congested areas in the park.
• Removing, disturbing or damaging any historic structure, artifact, rock, plant life, fossil or other feature is prohibited. State and federal laws protect this area and its resources.
• Pets are welcome, but must be kept on a leash of not more than six feet in length.
• Boats may not exceed 5 mph within 100 feet of swimmers or within any buoyed flat-wake zone along beaches.
• Please deposit all trash in the centrally located dumpsters or trash cans in the park.
• Discharge of any fireworks inside the park is prohibited.
• The use of drones or any remote controlled aircraft is not allowed. Visit B4UFLY for more info.
• Visitors are responsible for knowing all park rules and regulations in effect. Detailed rules and regulations are posted at the park or may be viewed on the Park Rules page.
• Those with developmental and/or physical limitations are invited to enjoy all of the recreational activities of Nevada State Parks. If you would like to request additional support or accommodations, please call Nevada State Parks at (775) 684-2770. We continually seek ways to provide recreational opportunities for people of all abilities and welcome any suggestions you may have.
• View a list of frequently asked questions.

NATURAL RESOURCES/CLIMATE

The park's vegetation is dominated by high desert sagebrush communities. Wooded areas of native cottonwoods and willows are scattered along the lake shore. Riparian zones are found up and downstream of the lake along the Carson River. Much of the park is below 4,000 feet in elevation. Rock from ancient volcanic flows is common in the mountains around the lake. Wild horses, bobcat, coyote, fox and deer share the park with a variety of birds. Migratory waterfowl, pelicans, herons, egrets and hawks are frequently seen. Lahontan is one of the few nesting sites for bald eagles. (READ MORE)

HISTORY OF LAHONTAN STATE RECREATION AREA – Established in 1971

Lahontan Dam and reservoir are part of the Newlands Project and one of the first irrigation projects under the 1902 Reclamation Act.  In 1905 it became the first to deliver water from works constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation.  The project diverts and stores water from the Truckee and Carson River Basins to irrigate lands near the town of Fallon and to produce hydroelectric power. Today about 30,000 acres are irrigated from the reservoir; depending on the snow pack. Drainage water from the irrigated lands flows into the Stillwater Wildlife Management Area, one of the finest waterfowl areas in Nevada. (READ MORE)